Launching the boot camp, Assistant Minister for Innovation Wyatt Roy said the scope of ideas was exciting.

“In an age of technology disruption, we should ask the next generation of Australians not what job do you want but, ‘What problem do you want to solve? How do you want to make the world a better place?’” Mr Roy said.

“With their range and depth of clever thinking, the students here today are no doubt on the path to becoming our next generation of inventors, innovators and scientists.

“For them to reach their full potential – particularly around STEM and digi-tech skills – in a disrupted economy, we need to develop links between education and the private sector and it’s fantastic to see that sort of collaboration occurring.”

Managing Director of Intel Australia Kate Burleigh said Intel’s program was about broadening and deepening interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths).

“Inspiring students to create with technology, to problem-solve and to innovate is essential to the growth of our economy,” Ms Burleigh said,

“Around two thirds of primary school students today will go into jobs that haven’t even been invented yet.

“Through the guidance of their teachers, but also with the support of industry and governments, students can learn – and are learning – to become creators, designers and inventors of technology, not just users, players and consumers.”

The five ACT schools have been involved with Intel’s pilot education program on innovation in education – focusing on students as creators, rather than just consumers, of technology.

Latest news

Hospitals, art galleries and sports stadiums are amongst the more unusual locations set to come alive with science during this year’s National Science Week, thanks to over $600,000 in Australian Government grants announced today.

The fifth round of Australian Government CRC Project (CRC-P) grants opened today, targeting short-term industry-led collaborative research projects that will develop products, services or processes to deliver tangible outcomes and commercial benefits to participants and their industry sectors.

Utilities

The department acknowledges the traditional owners of the country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to them and their cultures and to the elders past and present.